Level.



S. M. DUGGER.

LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED APB.11, 1914.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Attdrnevs preferable form of my invention is illustrated, in which stand therefor.

bearing S Hl EPI-IERID M. DUGGIER, 0F BANNER ELK, NORTH CAROLINA.

LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914:.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,194.

To all whom it may concern lde it known that I, SHEPHERD M. DUG- a citizen of the United States, reslding at Banner Elk, in the county of Avery and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Level, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in levels and more particularly to a level in combination with a Jacob stafi.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of level which will possess an inherent ruogedncss such as will renderit adaptable and particularly useful to miners and farmers.

A further object is to provide a plumb and needle level the readings of which are taken from the top surface so that the, sight and scale readings can be taken substantially simultaneous.

A. further object is to provide a. level and a Jacob staff for the supporting thereof and which Jacob staff is provided with means whereby the level may be raised and lowered -With precision such as is necessary and deslrablewlth the talnng of what is termed back sights.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, 1t being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the. spirit of the in Y vention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the

Fi ure 1 is a view in erspeetive illustratb p ing my improved level and. Jacob staff or tation of the device is procured. Fig. 4: is

anend view in elevation of the level. Fig. 5 1s detailcross seotlonal view of the ole vatmg means of the level.

Fig. 2 is a cross. sectional Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corrcspending parts throughout the several. news, the level proper comprises a two part body or casing 6 the separate sections of which are held. in rigid relation by the screws or other holding; means 7. The con tral portion of the top is arcuated as at 8 and which is provided with the four scales 9 graduated thereon which read from a central zero line 10 as a reference.

Each section ofthe casing is provided with a slot or opening 11 which is provided with the restricted portion 12 adjacent the lower extremity thereof. The side walls of the slot 11 are disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of the casing and are parallel to lines radiating from a point 13 as a center. Mention is here made of the fact that the levelbody or casing 6 issubstantially semi-eylindrical in outline, which allows the same to be supported in a rotatable manner and swing about a point or line 14 as a center which is approximately coincident Y-fllil'l the longitudinal axis of a cylinder of which the casing nught be considered as a semnportlon. Rigidly secured to the opposite cylindrical surfaces of the casing are the sight plates 15, each of which is provided with the upstanding cars 16. The sight plates rise above the upper surface of the casing so that the line of vision will not be intercepted by the inclinometer needle or any parts adjacent thereto. Also attention is called to the fact that the wide sight plat-s allow sights to be taken even though the rod or pole uponwhich the sights are taken does not lie dead ahead of the instrument.

Extending through the restricted portion of the slot 11 is the pivot 13 rotatably mounted upon which is the inclinometer needle 17 the lower extremity of which is enlarged to form the plumb portion 18. Se cured to the upper extremity ofthe needle and moving over the graduated scales 9 is theindicating arm 19. A forked rod 20 is provided with the screws 21 extending through the upper forked portions thereof, rotatably mounting the casing, and serving as clamp screws to regulate the friction by 3 which the casing rotates smoothly and is held at the desired adjustment. Rigidlysecured. to the lower extremity of the rod 20 and projecting therebeneath is the ball member 22 which coacts with a socket 23 formed in the sliding member 24. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the lower extremity of the rod 20 and the upper and contacting surface of the member 2% are spherical in outline which provides for constant contact between the two surfaces and at the same time allows for the universal relative motion of the two parts.

A staff 25 is provided at its lower extremity with a point 26 which can be driven into the ground for the supporting and holding rigid of the instrument. The upper extremity is provided with a rotatable sleeve 27 journaled' thereon, the lower extremity of which sleeve is provided with a number of teeth 28 which coact with the teeth 29 of the elevating member 30 which are cut in a spiral as well as helical manner. It is noted in passing that the elevating member 30 is provided with a threaded extremity 31 en gaging a threaded aperture 33 which extends transversely through the staff and provides that the elevating member will be moved longitudinally as the same is rotated thus bringing the teeth 29 in engagement with the sleeve 28 with the simultaneous rotation and elevation of the latter. The simultaneousness of the two actions provides for a smooth and accurate raising of the level. The under surface of the member 24 is provided with a number of roller bearings which provide for the anti-frictional relative rotation of the member 24 and the.

sleeve 27 upon which it bears. The inner surface of the sleeve 27 is threaded as at 32 which coacts with the external threads 33 of the staff. The pitch of the threads 32 is the same as the pitch of the spiral teeth 29. Thus the teeth 28 and 29 will remain in constant engagement.

In order to prevent the member 2a from being turned as the sleeve 27 rotates, a square projection 3a is provided and which slidably engages the side walls of a square. Extending downwardly from the member 24: are the arms 36 provided aperture 35.

with the inwardly extending knobs 37 at their lower extremities and which fit within and engage a peripheral groove 38 out upon.

the sleeve 27. The arms with the inwardly projecting knobs allow for the relative rotation of the sliding member and sleevebut prevent the longitudinal =shifting thereof.

The many advantages accruing from a structure of this character will be readily appreciated especially by those who find usage for instruments of this character in the laying out of drains, the leveling of terraces, foundations of buildings, and in connection vwith mine and surveying work where the instruments are, called upon to Withstand considerable hardship. Among the desirable features of the hereinbefore described structure the following are mentioned. The scale being disposedupon the top of the instrument, allows the same to be ,read from above or from either side. The manner in which the inclinometer needle is nnounted provides for the complete housing thereof and protects the same from injury. iThe manner in which the inclinometer needle is mounted provides for a close precision in readings as the upper extremity of the needle moves to a greater distance for equal movements of the plumb 18. The raising of the level is accomplished by a rotating of the elevating member 30 which by reason of the fact that it rotates and elevates the sleeve 27 at the same time, a smooth and uniform raising of the level can be obtained in taking back sights. The square member 34 prevents the rotation of the member 24: but allows for the longitudinal movement thereof. 1

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim to be new and original with me is l. A leveling instrument comprising a body portion provided with a slot extending transversely therethrough, aninclinometer needle pivotally mounted within said slot and extending through the top thereof, a staff provided with an upper forked end,

and means for rotatably securing'the body to the said forked end of the staff.

2. In an instrument of the character de- {scribed the combination of a body portion, an inclinometer needle housed therein and protected thereby, a rod rotatably support ing the said body portion, and a staff secured to said rod and provided for universal motion relative thereto, and means for'pre venting the separation thereof. 1

3. In an instrument of the character described the combination of a casing, an inclinometer needle pivotally disposed therein, a rod rotatably supporting said casing,

a staff, a sleevecarried thereby, means for elevating and lowering said sleeve, and a universal connection between the said forked 'rod and said sleeve.

4. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a casing, provided with a slotext-ending therethrough with a restricted lower portion, an inclinometer needle rotatably housed within said casing, thetop surface of said casing upon opposite sides of said needle housing slot adapted to receive scales thereon, a forked rod rotatably carrying said casing, a ball member secured to and extending beyond the lower extremity of said forked rod, a sliding member provided with a socket therein for the receiving and universal mounting of the said forked member, a staff, a non-rotating and sliding joint between said staff and said sliding member, a sleeve threadedly secured to and carried by the upper extremity of said staff, and means for. rotating the said thereabove.

sleeve for the elevating and lowering of said rotating member and the structures mounted 5. In an instrument of the character set forth, the combination of a semi-circular casing, an inclinometer needle housed therein and rotatably supported thereby, sights secured upon opposite sides of said semicircular casing, a rod rotatably mountlng the said semi-circular casing, a stall, and

a universal connection between said staff and said rod, and means for raising and lowering said universal connection with re spect to the said stafi.

6. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a casing, a horizontally reading inclinometer needle carried thereby and housed therein, a rod rotatably mounting the said casing, a stall", a sleeve threaded to the upper extremity thereof, said sleeve sal connection between the first mentioned a rod and the last mentioned member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SHEPHERD M. DUGGER.

\Vitnesses B. F. ELLER, F. H. STINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. G." 

